Philadelphia, with the help of Big Law attorneys from Dechert and Hogan Lovells, has certified to the U.S. Department of Justice that it is in compliance with federal law when it comes to sharing of immigration information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents.

As part of the certification, City Solicitor Sozi Pedro Tulante has sent a letter to the DOJ saying the city is fully compliant with 8 U.S.C. Section 1373, which says municipalities can't bar their officers and agents from sharing immigration information with ICE. The move is part of the city's efforts to navigate its status as a so-called “sanctuary city.”

The certification was done specifically in response to concerns raised by the administration of former President Barack Obama that two city policies—one implemented in 2001, the other in 2009—might violate Section 1373. Similar concerns were raised about policies in nine other municipalities as part of a broader evaluation by the U.S. Office of Inspector General.